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Colombia coach Jose Pekerman has selection problems ahead of his side’s World Cup debut against Greece in Belo Horizonte on Saturday.

They begin their campaign without a number of key players after midfielder Edwin Valencia and striker Radamel Falcao were ruled out of the competition through injury, Goal reported.

Falcao’s absence is a big blow and means Pekerman is likely to opt for Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca instead, with River Plate’s Teo Gutierrez playing off him in a 4-4-2 formation, but the Argentine coach is yet to decide on a replacement for deep-lying midfielder Valencia.

Captain Mario Yepes will start at the back, despite his advanced age of 38, although it is unclear which of the other defenders will partner the experienced Atalanta man against Greece.

Further forward, Jackson Martinez appears to have fallen out of favour with Pekerman amid rumours of a bust-up between player and coach, and the Porto man looks set to start on the bench against Greece.

Whichever team turns out on Saturday, Colombia are likely to take the initiative against a Greece team built on a solid back four.

Fernando Santos’ side conceded just four goals in 10 games in qualifying, less than any other team in Europe â and all of those were away from home. Much like in their 2004 European Championship win, Greece’s recent results have come off the back of a disciplined defence and a strong collective effort, boosted by counterattacking football and a successful strike rate from set pieces.

Greece beat Bolivia 2-1 in their last friendly following a four-game goalless streak and are expected to start with a 4-3-3 formation on Saturday, although that will revert to more of a 4-5-1 system when they are defending.

Santos lost Schalke defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos well before the tournament, but has no major injury worries ahead of the game against Colombia.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos has recovered from a biceps problem and should start, with winger Panagiotis Tachtsidis also expected to shake off an ankle injury in time for Saturday’s game.

FACTS:

Greece have lost five of their six World Cup games, winning the other one against Nigeria (2-1) on 17 June 2010. With 83.3% of defeats at the World Cup, Greece have the second worst ratio in the history of the tournament among teams having played at least six games behind El Salvador (100%).

Since 1966, Colombia have averaged the highest possession (58%), the most ball touches per game (794) and the best pass success rate (85% - min. 10 games) at the World Cup.

Greece have failed to score in five of their six games at the World Cup, scoring only against Nigeria (2-1) in 2010 with goals by Dimitris Salpingidis and Vasilis Torosidis.

Portuguese coach Fernando Santos has only lost three of his 26 competitive games as Greece supremo (W17 D6). Colombia had more shots on target than any other team in South American World Cup qualification (99).

Greece kept more clean sheets than any other European team in World Cup qualifying (eight). Colombia's 2-0 friendly victory over Greece ahead of the 1994 World Cup is the only previous meeting between the two nations.